Box-lid support.



No. 648,326. Patented Apr. 24, 1900'. a. s. ALLEN.

soxun SUPPORT.

(Application filed Jan. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. ALLEN, OF MONTPELIER, OHIO.

BOX-LID SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,326, dated April24, 1900.

Application filed January 8, 1900. Serial No. 673. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montpelier, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Lid Supports,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in box-lid supports, and pertainsto an attachment adapted to be connected with a box and its top foryieldingly supporting the top at different angles, whereby the top canbe turned entirely back for permitting free access thereto, all of whichwill be fully described hereinafter, and particularly referred to in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an endof a box, showing my attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is across-sectional view through a case containing a plurality ofdisplay-boxes, such as cigar-boxes, and illustrating the manner ofoperating the invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached perspective viewof my invention.

My invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection withcigar-boxes which have their covers opened and placed in a case fordisplaying the contents thereof, the invention being so constructed asto permit the operator to have ready and free access to the cigars orcontents of any of the boxes by depressing the lid downward, as shown inthe dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The common practice of cigar-dealers in exhibiting cigars within a case,show-window, and similar places is to support the lid in an openposition at the desired angle by driving a small nail or tack throughthe lower outer edge of the cover and into the adjacent upper edge ofthe back of the box. The difficulties are particularly that it isdifficult to have the lids of the boxes placed in a row at the sameangle, which is desirable for the purpose of making a uniform appearanceof the several boxes. The greatest difficulty,

however, is that the lids are rigidly supported tops of the boxes toremove from any one of the boxes the contents thereof as selected by thecustomer. The dealer must either support or entirelyremovethe lids bytearing them from the box, which might be a violation of law. When theyare torn from the box, the inner side of the lid (which invariablycontains the name of the brand of the cigar) is also removed, making itmore difficult for the customer to select his particular brand of cigar.

Bearing these difficulties in mind, the object of my invention is toprovide a simple attachable lid-support which will enable the dealer tosupport the lids-at the desired inclination and uniformly throughoutarow and in'such a manner as will permit the dealer ready and freeaccess to the contents of any box from which a customer may select topurchase, and thereby leaving the brand of cigar clearly in view of thecustomer and presenting a show case more attractive than one where thelids are removed.

Referring now to the drawings, the box attachment consists of a U-shaped clasp A,

having a rearwardly-projecting L-shaped member B, the depending stem aof the L-' shaped portion extending downward at one of the rear cornersof the box, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and the upper horizontalstem 1) attached to the upper edge of the U shaped clasp A. ThisU-shaped clasp A is adapted to embrace one end of the cigar-box, nearthe rear edge thereof, as clearly illustrated, and the outer edge of thedepending portion a of the L-shaped arm is provided with a plurality ofnotches d, which constitute a plurality of vertically-arrangedsupporting-shoulders adapted to receive and support the lid-supportingconnection for the purpose of effecting an adjustment of the lid in themanner to be described hereinafter.

I. here show the L-shaped portion B as made separate from the clasp A,with one arm or stem thereof attached thereto by soldering, riveting, orotherwise; but it will be readily understood that this L-shaped portionmay be formed as a part and integral with the clasp A without in anymanner affecting my invention. As here shown also, there is a verticalspace or slat 6 between the depending portion a and the clasp A, andthis slat is formed at both sides of the clasp. It will be understood,however, that the slat need only be at the inner side-of the clasp forpermitting the passage of the back of the box in placing the boxattachment in position thereon. r A lid attachment is connected to thelid,

and this attachment D is here shown in the form of a U shaped claspadapted to embrace the adjacent edge of thelid, and this U shaped claspis provided with an eyef. However, it will be readily understood thatinstead of having a clasp like that here shown some otherform ofattachment may be provided with an eye without affecting the spirit ofmy invention.

The means of supporting the lid consists of I a vertically-adjustaibleflexible wire 0, which has itslower end h rigidly connected to the outerside of the clasp A in any desired manner and its upper end t' adaptedto pass through the eye of the lid attachment D. This wire is providedwith a spring-coilH at a-point intermediate its ends and situated justbeyond the'rear end of the box attachment, and the wire is adapted to beengaged in any one of the vertical series of notches d for the purposeof adjusting it vertically and varying theangle at which the lidis'supported, according to the position of the wire in any of the. saidnotches, as will be readily understood. 1 The coil between the ends ofthe wire permits the lid to be pressed downward, as shown in Fig. 2, forthe purpose of permitting the dealer to have free access to the contentsof any one or more of the said boxes.

From the above I that I have provided a very simple and cheap attachmentfor supporting the lids of cigar'or other boxes at adesired and uniforminclination and which also permits the dealer tohave.

w free access to any one of the plurality of boxes which are placed onein front of the other within a holder for exhibition purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby L'etters'Patent, is-- 1 A box-lid support comprising a boxattachment, and a vertically-adj ustable flexible box-lid-snpportin gconnection having one end connected with the box attachment and theopposite end connected with thelid, substantially as described. v

2. A'box-lid support comprising a box attachment, a vertical movablefiexible1id-snp+ port having one end connected with the box descriptionit will be seen in presence of two attachment, and its opposite endconnected with the box-lid, andadjustable means situated between theends of said flexible connection, and adapted to hold it at variouselevations, to regulate the handle of the box-lid,

substantially as described.

3. A box-lid support comprising a box at tachm'ent, a vertically-adjustable and flexible box-lid support having one endv connected with. thebox attachment, one of said members constructed to hold the lid-supportat various elevations, and theupper and free end of'thesaid lid-supportadapted to be connected withthe lid, substantially as described.

4. A box-support comprising a box attachment, a lid attachment, a wirehaving one end rigidly connected with the box. attachment, and itsopposite end in loose engagement with the lid attachment, h-aving'aplurality of vertically-arrang'ed supporting-she ulders'for engagementwith the wire between its ends, substantially as described.

5 A lid-support comprising a box attachment, a lid attachment, a wirehaving one end rigidly connected with the box attachment,

and its opposite ends in loose-engagement with the lid attachment, thebox attachment provided with a vertical series of supportin shouldersforengagement'with the said wire between its ends, and the said wireprovided with a' coil at a pointbeyond the said supporting-shoulders,substantially as described.

6. A lid-support comprising abox attachment having a vertically-arrangedmember with a plurality of vertically-arranged supporting-shoulders, alid attachment, a wire having one end rigidly attached to the boxattachment, and its opposite end in loose engagement respectively with'eithe'r of the said substantially opposite end in'loose engagement withthe lid attachment, and adapted to be respectively engaged with eitherof said shoulders, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature witnesses.

GEORGE S. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

J. S. INGRAM, ALLEN B. WORCESTER.

